smothered

USAGE SUMMARY

'smothered' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something that is covered in a thick layer of something, i.e. covered completely and thickly. For example, "The chicken was smothered in a creamy sauce."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At three years of age, my mother smothered my sister.

The Guardian

A simple timber box, it showed how the rambling concrete terraces of the Southbank Centre can be enlivened with nimble intervention – proving they don't really need to be smothered with giant glass containers of shops and restaurants.

The Guardian - Arts

On any one day you could find a rich pumpkin soup with leek, cauliflower and sage, basmati rice with bitter puntarelle, courgette and marinated tofu, crunchy buckwheat smothered with a tangy hummus, seaweed risotto, and red cabbage flan.

The Guardian - Travel

'See?' said a girl with punky hair and arms smothered by bangles.

The Guardian - Travel

A chef at Tsarske Selo, a restaurant in Kiev, became know for his dish of four salo rolls smothered in chocolate.

The Guardian

He looked after me at weekends when Mum and Dad were working, and he'd make me oatcakes smothered with Dairy Lea, and a cup of hot milk, before reading me bedtime stories.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

As Pressley rightly acknowledges, the league is smothered by its dependance on a television deal which depends on four Old Firm matches every season.

The Guardian - Sport

Even in the evenings, a huge pizza smothered with gorgonzola and speck (smoky Tyrolean ham) and "un quarto di vino della casa" costs less than €15.

The Guardian - Travel

But the way the Rapids smothered the Impact midfield was worrisome.

The Guardian - Sport

A woman who smothered a dying fellow churchgoer with a pillow despite her victim's opposition to euthanasia has been jailed for life with a minimum term of nine years for his murder.

The Guardian

Everything on the menu sounds delicious, but the granola is smothered in yogurt, the pancakes are full of milk and as for the eggs benedict – there's a lake of clarified butter in the hollandaise.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "smothered" to vividly describe something completely covered, whether it's food with sauce, a landscape with snow, or emotions being suppressed.

Common error

While "smothered" is appropriate for descriptive writing, avoid using it excessively in formal or professional contexts. Opt for more neutral terms like "covered" or "repressed" when necessary.

Linguistic Context

The word "smothered" functions primarily as the past participle of the verb "smother". It's used to describe a state where something is completely covered or suppressed, as shown in Ludwig's examples where food is "smothered" in sauce or emotions are "smothered". According to Ludwig AI, it is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Lifestyle

25%

Travel

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "smothered" is a versatile term used to express complete coverage or suppression. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. With examples from diverse sources like The Guardian and The Economist, it's evident that "smothered" is frequently employed in news, lifestyle, and travel contexts. While grammatically sound, one should avoid overusing "smothered" in extremely formal settings. Consider alternatives like "covered completely" or "suffocated" based on the intended nuance. Its prevalence makes it a common and easily understood term for both native and non-native English speakers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

suffocated

Emphasizes the deprivation of air or essential resources.

covered completely

Focuses on the extent of the covering, rather than the act of smothering.

buried

Suggests being completely concealed or hidden under something.

drenched

Implies being thoroughly soaked, often with a liquid.

overwhelmed

Focuses on the feeling of being overpowered or inundated.

inundated

Implies being flooded or overwhelmed with a large quantity.

stifled

Indicates suppressing or restraining something, often growth or expression.

repressed

Highlights the act of holding back or suppressing emotions or actions.

concealed

Emphasizes the act of hiding something from view.

hidden

Focuses on the state of being out of sight or knowledge.

FAQs

How can I use "smothered" in a sentence?

You can use "smothered" to describe something being thickly covered, for example: "The fries were "smothered" in cheese sauce."

What is a good synonym for "smothered"?

Depending on the context, you can use "covered", "buried", or "suffocated" as alternatives to "smothered".

When is it appropriate to use "smothered" in writing?

The word "smothered" is suitable for descriptive writing when you want to express something that is thickly and completely covered. Avoid in formal situations where neutrality is preferred.

What does it mean to say that something is "smothered"?

To say something is "smothered" implies it is completely and thickly covered, often to the point of being concealed or overwhelmed. For example: "The village was "smothered" in fog."